Hide stretching frame



Oct. 29, 1968 M. R. NELSON HIDE STRETCHING FRAME File d Feb. 16. 1966 an m: mEf TN! T1. Wm v 16 M United States Patent 3,407,634 HIDE STRETCHING FRAME Marvin R. Nelson, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (11806 21st Ave., Haney, British Columbia, Canada) Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 527,807 5 Claims. (Cl. 6919.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hide stretching and drying frame with means to secure a hide to the frame, the securing means having pointed elements disposed within an opening of the frame, generally normal to a plane of an outer surface of the frame, and extendng upwards away from that plane so that the hide is supported clear of, within, and above, the frame for free circulation of air, and so that the hide may readily be secured to and removed from the pointed securing elements.

The invention relates to frames to which a raw hide is secured for drying.

Prior to my invention hides were commonly dried using a frame having a series of lateral wooden members in generally parallel spaced relationship to one another, and a series of longitudinal wooden members in generally parallel space relationship to one another and secured to a surface of said lateral members so as to form a grid, such lateral and transverse members might be one inch by six inch stock nailed together.

The hide to be dried is secured to the frame by common nails passing through the hide near the periphery thereof, the nails being driven only partially into the transverse and lateral wooden members. The hide is then lifted upwards of the nails to the nail heads, the nails being of such length that the hide may be lifted, say about an inch, clear of the frame so air may circulate to dry the hide.

The dry hide, now held stretched by the nails, is released from the frame by pulling the nails.

This method and apparatus are well known in the art, although apparently simple and crude, it is effective and has been in common use for generations.

Driving the nails to secure the hide to the frame, and pulling them to remove the dried hide, is time consuming. Particularly in the case of valuable hides care is required to avoid damage. Exercise of the necessary care lengthens the labor time.

I have devised apparatus, and a method associated therewith, whereby the labor cost of the operation above is materially reduced.

Essentially the apparatus includes; a member having an upper surface, in the member an opening defined by an edge; a plurality of upstanding elements substantially normal to the upper surface, the upstanding elements having points disposed upwards, in such arrangement that said points are disposed within the opening, the said upstanding elements being at spaced intervals adjacent the edge of the opening; the foregoing constructed and arranged so that a raw hide may be secured by passing the points of the upstanding elements through the hide adjacent edges thereof, thereby to support the hide above, and clear of, the opening.

The method of drying raw hides using the above apparatus includes the steps of; securing the raw hide over the opening by successively passing points of the upstanding members just through the hide near the edge thereof so that it is supported clear of the edge of the opening and lightly stretched by the upstanding elements; leaving the apparatus and the hide for a length of time in a usual drying atmosphere until it is suitably dry; and finally removing the dried hide by lilfting upwards to disengage the points.

3,407,634 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 It will be understood that, in a commercial operation, a number of units of such an apparatus will be required so that many hides may be being dried at the same time. It will also be understood that a range of sizes will be required to accommodate hides of different sizes.

The member having an opening may conveniently be made by cutting out a portion of suitable size, say according to the smallest raw hide to be accommodated, from a panel of common three-quarter or one inch plywood. The shape of the opening required is roughly oval, to conform generally to the shape of the hide. Then out completely around the opening at a distance of, say, three to five inches, therefrom. I refer to the structure so produced as a frame. Such a frame is thus three-quarters of an inch, or one inch, thick. The nails used should be corrosion resistant, for instance stainless steel or galvanized. Commercially available smooth galvanized nails are used for the upstanding pointed elements, since they are cheap and effective. Nails having a rough galvanized surface are undesirable since the rough surface tends to make removal of the dried hide difiicult. Three to three and a half inch nails are suitable, the nails having common heads.

The pointed elements are formed by driving a plurality of such nails through the frame at suitable spaced intervals. These should be driven in pre-drilled holes, to avoid splitting the frame, and to facilitate driving the nails. Next bend the nail flat against the upper frame surface forming a first bent portion substantially at right angles.

to the edge of the opening, so that the pointed end extends within the opening. Next secure the first bent portion, which is flat against the frame surface, to that surface by a staple. Finally, form a second bent portion by bending the pointed end upwards, say three-quarters of an inch from the point, so that the point shall extend, say, half an inch beyond the frame edge within the opening.

An alternative to the foregoing uses an upstanding pointed element embodiment generally resembling a bolt such as commonly used to secure a door. The particular bolt embodiment has a shaft element movable axially within a casing in the ordinary way, but is distinguished from a common bolt in that the shaft may be secured in a number of different axial positions. When secured in any one such position, a pointed element fixed at right angles to the shaft is disposed point upwards. In this way, with a range, for example, of two inches between extreme shaft positions, raw hides of different sizes may be accommodated.

Referring to the prior art, depending upon the size of the raw hide the position at which a particular nail should be driven into the grid is not closely critical since there is some latitude in the permissible initial stretch. Thus, a frame of the present invention having pointed nails in a fixed position can properly accommodate a restricted range of skin sizes. That range is materially increased when the adjustable bolt embodiment above is used.

From the foregoing description and explanation, it is clear that the labor cost per hide using my apparatus and method is, in comparison to the prior art discussed, less both in attaching and in removing the hide.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is to illustrate the method of cutting out a number of frames from a plywood panel.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the frame of subject invention with a hide, shown fragmented, attached thereto.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail showing the frame in section, with a common nail pointed element in place,

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of an adjustable bolt pointed element embodiment.

FIGURE 5 is a section on line 5--5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the numeral 10 indicates a part of a common one-inch plywood panel. To make a series of frames in graduated size, a first cut is made on the outline 11, which outline is of size and shape according to the smallest frame opening-size required. The outline 12 is suitably about three inches outside of 11, and a cut on this line produces a first frame 13. Successive cuts on the outlines 14, 16 produce additional, successively larger, frames 15, 17. The largest frame may be about five inches wide but it is to be understood the frame width is not critical-this is governed by the size and strength requirement.

FIGURE 2 shows a such frame 17 having a plurality of pointed elements 18, as shown in detail in FIGURE 3, at spaced intervals around the frame. As seen in FIG- URES 2 and 3, the raw hide 19 is secured to and stretched between the pointed elements by passing the pointed ends 20 thereof through holes punched in the raw hide near the edge 21 thereof.

The pointed element 18 is suitably a galvanized nail of the type and size described. The element may be formed as follows.

A series of such nails is driven in the frame at spaced intervals as aforesaid, so that as shown in FIGURE 3 only, the head 22 of the nail is flush with the rear frame surface 23. It is desirable that the nails be driven in predrilled holes, to avoid the possibility of splitting the plywood frame.

The nail is now bent inwards towards the opening so that a first bent portion 24 lies flat against the frame upper surface 25 and substantially at right angles to the vertical edge 26 defining the inner wall of the frame opening 27, extending within the frame opening. Next the pointed end is bent at right angles outward of the surface 25 to form a second bent portion, the upstanding portion 28 as shown. Suitably the upstanding point 20 may be half an inch or more from the edge 26, disposed about threequarters of an inch above the frame surface 25. The flat portion 24 is now secured against the frame surface 25 by staple means 24A. As before stated, the staple may be driven before making the final bend to form the upstanding vertical portion. When this is done, it is well to give the staple a final tap with a manneras it may have been loosened in bending. The staple serves mainly to secure the element in place.

A bolt embodiment of the pointed element is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. FIGURE 4 shows the bolt device secured to a frame 17, FIGURE 5 shows the device only in section.

The device indicated generally by the numeral 29 has a cylindrical shaft 30 capable of axial movement within a casing 31. The casing has a longitudinal opening 32, to accommodate a pin 33 secured to the shaft. Thus the shaft may be moved longitudinally of the casing by means of the pin 33. The opening has an upper edge 34. Several sloping spaced slots 35 to accommodate the pin 33 are formed in the said upper edge. Thus, the shaft may be locked in any one of the several slot positions by turning the pin 33 from the broken line position 33A FIG- URE 5, to the full line position.

The bolt shaft 30 is longer than the casing 31 so that an end 36 FIGURE 4 thereof shall extend there beyond when the pin 33 is engaged by sides of that slot 35 most distant from the shaft and 36. The distance that the shaft and .36 extends beyond the casing varies according to which slot 35 is used in locking.

Close to the shaft end 36, at right angles thereto, is a short pointed element 37, so disposed in relation to the pin 33, see FIGURE 5, that the former is vertical when the letter is rotated clockwise to the full line locked position shown.

The casing has a flat lower surface 38 for obvious attachment to the upper frame surface 27, and is attached thereto so that the end 36 of the bolt shaft is disposed inwards towards the frame inner edge aforesaid. The length of the shaft 30 is such that at the least extension 4 of the end 36 thereof, the pointed end 37 shall be disposed outwards beyond the frame edge 26 to extend about half an inch within the frame opening.

It is seen, FIGURE 4, that the slots 35 slope towards the shaft end 36 so that, as the initial stretch is applied to the raw hide 19 by passing the pointed element 37 through edge holes therein (in the same way as that illustrated in FIGURE 3) the bolt shaft is locked in the proper position with the pointed element 37 thereof vertical. It is further seen that additional load applied as the hide shrinks in drying, locks the pin more strongly.

It is possible to secure the hide to the frame by forcing the pointed members 18, or 29 as the case may be, against the comparatively soft raw hide to pierce it. However, I have found it to be better to punch properly positioned holes near the edge of the hide, using a common leather punch, and to pass the pointed members therethrough, to the position shown in FIGURE 3. In this manner, the hide can be nicely positioned withease. It is to be noted, see particularly FIGURES 2 and 3, that when properly secured to the frame, the edge 21 of the hide is spaced from the frame wall 26 as indicated at 21A. This is for free circulation of air in drying.

A preferred frame embodiment and the method of cutting a number of frames from a plywood panel has been described and illustrated above.

It is apparent that a frame could be made of other ma terial, for example of metal tubing. Structure similar to the nail embodiment FIGURE 3, or similar to the bolt embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5, could obviously be adapted for attachment thereto.

A such metal frame is more robust than a plywood frame, will stand more abuse, and may be expected to have a longer life. The plywood frame is cheaper in first cost, but can readily be made in the particular required sizes from common, inexpensive, material by anyone able to use the simple tools required.

The apparatus, the method of constructing plywood frame thereof, and the method of securing hide to, and removing it from, the frame are distinguished from the prior art. The actual drying of the hide is much the same as heretoforewith however improvement of air circulation resulting from the clear space below the hide. The frames are often hung in a vertical position to dry. Whether this is done, or whether the frames are horizontal in drying, my frame does not have the obstruction to air flow that results from the previous grid construction. Accordingly drying tends to be, other things being equal, quicker and more nearly uniform.

The end product is generally as previously obtained using the grid frame of the prior art, but is distinguished in that, since less skill is required to stretch the hide using my frame, the average product will tend to be superior to the average product obtained in the prior art unless, indeed, in practicing the latter great pains are taken. A reason for this is a difliculty previously encountered. When it was apparent that a false start had been made, and that optimum positioning and stretching would not therefore result, the prior are required nails to be pulled, the hide to be repositioned, and the operation started anew. Such a false start can be made using my device but, when this has become apparent, it is much easier to remove the hide and restarthence it is human nature that, when repositioning is required, the ordinary workman will not display the same reluctance to restart, since restarting is so much easier than formerly.

It will be understood that the description given with respect to cutting a series of frames from a plywood panel will result in graded sizes differing by steps of three to five inches. In many cases, this gradation is not fine enough. Accordingly, in producing a large number of frames, initial cuts of different sizes are required. Frames can of course be produced in such size gradations, and shapes, as might be considered necessary.

It is to be understood that, where dimensions have been given in the foregoing description, these are given by way of example to show what I have found to be practical and workable.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A hide stretching and drying apparatus having a frame member including an opening defined by a side edge, and means to secure a raw hide to the frame, in combination with the foregoing; a plurality of securing elements having upstanding pointed ends substantially normal to a plane of an upper surface of the frame, the securing elements being attached at one end to a surface of the frame and disposed to extend inwards from the frame side edge, with the upstanding pointed ends above the plane aforesaid; constructed and arranged so that a raw hide can be secured and stretched to the frame by successively passing the points of the upstanding elements through the hide adjacent to its edges, the elements thus supporting the hide above and clear of the opening each of said securing elements being a rigid member having a first bent portion which is in contact with the upper face of said frame member and extends into said opening, said element having a second bent portion at its inner end at an angle to said first portion to form said upstanding ends.

2. Structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said securing elements are smooth surfaced, corrosion resistant nail with the nails extending through said frame member with the head of said nails in contact with the lower face of said frame member.

3. Structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said nails have a smooth galvanized coating.

4. Structure as defined in claim 3, and staple means to secure the first bent portion to the frame upper surface.

5. Structure as described in claim 1 wherein each of said securing elements comprises,

(a) an elongate, hollow, open-ended casing mounted on the upper face of said frame member with its hollow cavity aligned substantially normal to the inner edge of said opening in said frame member,

(b) a shaft mounted in said hollow cavity for longitudinal and rotary movement, said shaft having a short, pointed element on its end which extends over the opening in said frame member,

(c) said casing having a longitudinally extending slot in its side face, a plurality of secondary slots opening from said first slot, said secondary slots sloping from said first slot in a direction toward the shaft end which carries said pointed element, a pin mounted on said shaft and slidable within said slots for locking engagement in a one of said secondary slot, the short pointed elements being substantially normal to the frame surface when the pin is in locking engagement as aforesaid,

constructed and arranged so that longitudinal motion of the shaft relative to the casing provides means of adjusting a distance which the pointed element extends within the opening, and so that pull upon the bolt in stretching the hide shall urge the pin into locking engagement with the sloping slot aforesaid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,268,610 6/1918 Prange et al. 69-19.1 2,290,457 7/1942 Taylor 6919.1 2,594,902 4/1952 Frazier 69-19.l 2,118,880 5/1938 Davis 38-l02.1

PATRICK lj. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

